Researchers with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) made the
find while surveying white-lipped peccaries in Brazil's Cerrado
plateau, a vast savanna region, in 2009. The animals, which
travel long distances, are considered environmental
indicators of healthy forests.

"Since we often work in remote locations, we sometimes make
surprising discoveries, in this case, one that appears to be
important for our understanding of human cultural history in the
region," Alexine Keuroghlian, a researcher with WCS's Brazil
program, said in a statement.

The researchers encountered a series of sandstone formations with
caves containing the artwork while tracking the peccaries near
the remote city of Corguinho, in the Brazilian state of Mato
Grosso do Sul.

Archaeologists say the style of the drawings is more diverse than
expected. While some resemble ancient art from the central
Brazilian plateau, others, surprisingly, seem etched in the
artistic tradition of northeastern Brazil, the researchers said.
In addition to human figures and geometric shapes, many different
kinds of animals were represented, from big cats and armadillos
to birds and reptiles, but alas, no peccaries.

"These discoveries of cave drawings emphasize the importance of
protecting the Cerrado and Pantanal ecosystems, both for their
cultural and natural heritage," Julie Kunen, director of WCS's
Latin America and the Caribbean program, said in a statement. "We
hope to partner with local landowners to protect these cave
sites, as well as the forests that surround them, so that the
cultural heritage and wildlife depicted in the drawings are
preserved for future generations."

The white-lipped peccary, whose scientific name is Tayassu
pecari, is listed as a vulnerable species by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the
world's main authority for the conservation status of
wildlife. The animal's range extends from southern Mexico to
northern Argentina. It faces threats in the wild, including
deforestation and hunting.